Drivers are being warned that they could be slapped with fines if they leave their cars running when parked as more cities around the UK introduce new rules.
Rule 123 of the Highway Code deals with the driver and the environment and instructs motorists to not leave a parked car unattended while the engine is running or unnecessarily when stationary on a public road.
If the vehicle is likely to be stationary for more than a couple of minutes, they should apply the parking brake and switch off the engine amid concerns it will worsen noise pollution and emissions output.
It does make an exception for someone who leaves the engine running when stationary in traffic to diagnose faults with the vehicle.
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Idling zones are normally in operation near schools
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Thanet District Council in Kent has become the most recent local authority to introduce new rules to fine drivers £20 who continue to idle, with the value of the fixed penalty notice rising to £40 if it is not paid within 28 days.
This is being done as part of the council’s corporate priorities to “protect our environment” by limiting things, like idling, which increase the rate of traffic-related air pollution.
Activity by environmental officers in Thanet will concentrate on educating parents and local people outside of schools and in areas where pedestrians are at particularly high risk.
The council cited data which found that an idling vehicle emits 20 times more pollution than one travelling at 32mph and for each litre of fuel used by a diesel engine, 2.64kg of CO2 is released into the atmosphere.
Similarly, Ealing Council said idling can cost up to 3p per minute in fuel. If a vehicle idled for 10 minutes per day, drivers would be wasting more than £58 within six months.
Councillor Peter Mason, who represents the Southall Green ward for Labour, said: “Leaving car engines running unnecessarily pollutes the air we all breathe, adds to the climate crisis and causes asthma and other lung and heart conditions in both children and adults.
“Air pollution in our borough is avoidable and all it takes is switching off your engine when your car isn’t moving whenever you can. It makes a huge difference to the air quality.”
Brighton and Hove recently introduced a charge of £40 for drivers who leave their engines running when parked.
Signs were set up across the city in December last year as enforcement of the new measures was launched on January 1, 2024.
Drivers can be fined if they leave their cars idling in parking bays, taxi ranks or other parts of the road. However, people waiting in traffic will not be fined.
They will be fined if an environmental officer sees a car idling and they will be spoken to. They will then take the driver’s details and issue them with a fixed penalty notice, although this will be halved to £20 if paid within 10 days.
If the motorist refuses to give their details or drives away, the council will be in contact with Sussex Police and the FPN will be sent in the post.
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More local authorities are looking to crack down on unnecessary idling
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Speaking at the time, Councillor Tim Rowkins, chair of the City Environment, South Downs and The Sea Committee said last year: “Improving the city’s air quality is extremely important, especially for those who suffer from long-term respiratory conditions like asthma and lung disease.
“Enforcing engine idling is something we hope will deter motorists from releasing harmful emissions unnecessarily. We’re asking those parked up to switch off their engines and reduce air pollution.”
